scarab beetle, any member of the beetle family Scarabaeidae (order Coleoptera), which contains about 30,000 species found throughout the world. Scarab beetles Scarabaeidaeany of approximately 30,000 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) that are compact and heavy-bodied insects with robustly oval outlines. They are distinguished from other beetles by their unusual antennae, each of which terminates in three flattened plates that fit together to form a club. The outer edges of their front legs are often toothed or scalloped to facilitate digging. These beetles vary in size from 5 mm (0.2 inch) for the smaller species to the African goliath beetle, which at 12 cm (4.8 inches) is one of the heaviest known insects.

Scarab beetles vary considerably in habits, with many species feeding on manure or on decomposing plant materials, others on growing roots or leaves, and a few on fungi. The family Scarabaeidae includes the subfamilies Cetoniinae (seeflower chafer); Melolonthinae (see chafer; June beetle); Rutelinae (see shining leaf chafer); Scarabeinae (see dung beetle); and Dynastinae (see rhinoceros beetle).

The family includes several agricultural pests, including June beetles (or June bugs), rose beetles, and the Japanese beetle (q.v.). The dung beetle Scarabaeus sacer was sacred to the ancient Egyptians. Scarab beetles are one of the most popular families with insect collectors owing to the large size and beautifully coloured, hard, highly polished forewings of many species.